A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes behind Earth, so that the Earth blocks the sun's rays from striking the moon. Hailed as the longest lunar eclipse in hundred years, it comes at a time when the moon is at its farthest point from the earth (apogee), causing it to go slower and the eclipse to last longer.

The space agency said Nigeria, like most of Africa, the Middle East, southern Asia and the Indian Ocean region would witness a total Lunar Eclipse on the 27th of July 2018. Here's everything you need to know to catch the astrological phenomenon if you're in Italy.

Fearing the jaguar would come down to earth to continue its assault, people would throw spears at the moon and create noise to scare it away.

"First, if we consider Saturn and Jupiter - Saturn goes around the sun every 30 years, while Jupiter goes around it every 12 years, so for a large chunk of time they're on opposite sides of the sky, and never seen at the same time".

In another rare event, Mars will appear directly below the moon in the skyline tonight at near maximum brightness.

Lunar eclipse: Skygazers await century's longest 'blood moon'

This is an eclipse of the moon.

The eclipse will be witnessed as far as Chile and New Zealand, but the USA and Canada will miss out on a glimpse of the rare lunar spectacle. We will have to wait for May 26, 2021, to view the next total lunar eclipse in Singapore. The only light which reaches moon and gets reflected back is the one which is refracted by the earth's atmosphere.

According to National Geographic, an Inca myth told the story of a jaguar that attacked and ate the moon (giving it its red colour).

The moon will be fully covered by 8.29pm and last until about 10.15pm, with its appearance varying across Britain, Europe and much of the Eastern Hemisphere.

However, he said it was still worth seeing as the next blood moon would not be visible in New Zealand until May 2021.

The entire eclipse can be viewed from Brunei until moon set at 6.23am, Hazarry said.

"Less dark eclipses may show the moon as dark grey or brown.as rust-coloured, brick-red, or, if very bright, copper-red or orange".

For those in areas from Whanganui to Wellington, there would be just a slim chance of glimpsing the totally-eclipsed moon as the Sun peeked above the horizon.

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